Apparatus and method for powering an electronic weapon sight

ABSTRACT

A sight for a handheld weapon includes an electronic component that is powered by a power source. The sight includes an electronic controller and a motion detector. When the sight is moved, the motion detector generates signals and the electronic controller receives the signals. The electronic controller determines whether power should be supplied to the electronic component based on the received signals.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent App. No. 61/147,069 titled “Apparatus and Method forPowering an Electronic Weapon Sight,” filed on Jan. 23, 2009, which isfully incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field of the present disclosure relates to regulating power for anelectronic weapon sight, specifically, based on movement of the weaponsight.

BACKGROUND

Weapon sights using electronic components, such as an illuminated aimingmark, are well known. Such weapon sights typically use a battery as asource of electrical power to drive a light source, such as a lightemitting diode (“LED”) or a laser diode (“LD”), to form the aimingpoint. It is common for electronic sights to include an on/off switch asa mechanism for controlling whether electrical power is supplied to thelight source. Another known arrangement uses a photo-diode to senseambient light surrounding an electronic sight and adjust the amount ofelectrical power supplied to the light source based on the ambient lightlevel. An example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,806. Yet other approaches usean inclinometer to sense a weapon's inclination to determine whetherelectrical power should be supplied to a light source, as in U.S. Pat.No. 7,346,400.

The present inventors have recognized certain disadvantages with currentelectronic sights. On/off switches require extra time and an extra stepof activating the switch when a weapon is picked up and the electronicsight is off. Requiring a user to operate a switch to activate theelectronic sight slows down the initial speed with which the weapon andsight combination can be used. If the user picks up a weapon in responseto a threatening situation and forgets to activate the switch, or doesnot have time to activate the switch, the electronic sight isessentially useless as a sighting device at a time when it may most beneeded. Another disadvantage associated with an on/off switch is that auser may forget to turn an electronic sight off, thus draining thebattery while the weapon is stored or otherwise not used.

The present inventors have also recognized disadvantages with using aphoto-diode to regulate the amount of power supplied to a light source.One disadvantage is that the power may be reduced, but not cut-off, whena photo-diode is used. Thus, a battery's life may be extended, but thebattery is still supplying electrical power to the light source when aweapon is stored or otherwise not being used. Another disadvantage isthat photo-diodes commonly require access to ambient light to operateeffectively. If a photo-diode, or an access port in or on an electronicsight body, becomes covered with dirt, lint, water droplets, or otherobstructions, the photo-diode may not correctly sense ambient lightconditions and may cause the light source to illuminate at too low anilluminance to be well seen.

The present inventors have also recognized disadvantages with using aninclinometer to regulate power supplied to a light source. Aninclinometer may be used in an electronic sight to deactivate the lightsource when the sight, and thus the weapon, is held at a predeterminedangular relationship with respect to a reference. Thus, the electronicsight is essentially useless when a weapon user needs to use the weaponin an orientation outside the predetermined angular relationships thatdictate when the light source is illuminated.

SUMMARY

The present inventors have recognized disadvantages associated withcurrent electronic sights, and have recognized needs to overcome thosedisadvantages. Accordingly, embodiments described herein may overcomesome or all of the above identified disadvantages, or may address otherdisadvantages or needs. An exemplary embodiment provides an electronicsight that controls power to an electronic component in response tomovement of the electronic sight. Other embodiments may recognize motionpatterns, and may control power based on recognizing or not recognizingvarious motion patterns.

Another exemplary embodiment includes an electronic sight having a bodythat retains a lens. An electronic controller is attached to the bodyand includes operative connections to a motion detector and a lightsource. The light source is used to create or illuminate an aimingpoint, for example, on the lens, on a transparent substrate or reticleplate, reflected from the lens onto a user's retina or other suitablelocation, holographically, or projected in front of the sight. A powersource, such as a battery, is attached to the body and preferablysupplies power to the motion detector and to the light source. Theelectronic controller receives signals from the motion detector when themotion detector senses that the electronic sight is being moved, anduses the signals from the motion detector to determine whether powershould be supplied to the light source. One or more of the receivedsignals from the motion detector may also be used to “wake up” theelectronic controller from a low power mode to a full power mode.

An exemplary method for supplying power to a light source in anelectronic sight includes generating a motion signal by a motiondetector when an electronic sight is moved, receiving such motion signalby an electronic controller, and changing the power consumption of theelectronic controller from a low power mode to a normal power mode inresponse to the received motion signal. Another method further includesthe electronic controller providing, or preventing, electric power toflow to the light source based on the received motion signal, or absencethereof.

Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top rear-quarter elevation view of a sight attached to apistol.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the sight of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cut away view of an electronic controller.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating the connection of electricalcomponents.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of supplying power to an electroniccomponent in a sight.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another method of supplying power to anelectronic component in a sight.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another method of supplying power to anelectronic component in a sight.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another method of supplying power to anelectronic component in a sight.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another method of supplying power to anelectronic component in a sight.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the connection of electricalcomponents including a charging device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments for regulating a power supply to an electronic component ina weapon sight may be implemented in a variety of sight configurationsand for a variety of electronic components. Exemplary electronic sightsinclude sights with a light source commonly referred to as reflexsights, laser sights, illuminated reticle sights, holographic sights,and other aiming devices with light sources or other electroniccomponents.

Throughout the disclosure, the term “motion detector” collectivelyrefers to two categories of devices. The first category includes sensorsthat incorporate or include an electronic processor and generate one ormore signals necessarily carrying kinematic information representativeof movement, such as magnitude of displacement, velocity, acceleration,direction of movement, direction of acceleration, or any combination ofthe foregoing. Examples of such devices include piezoelectricaccelerometers, motion transducers, micro-electromechanical system(“MEMS”) accelerometers, MEMS gyroscopes, and the like. The electronicprocessor used in devices of the first category may cooperate with theelectronic controller that regulates power to the light source or otherelectronic device, or may operate independently of the electroniccontroller that regulates power to the light source or other electronicdevice.

The second category includes devices that include sensors that generateone or more signals when the sensors are moved, but the signals do notnecessarily carry kinematic information. The sensors of this secondcategory of devices are generally operatively connected to an electronicprocessor, such as a microprocessor or signal processing circuitry, thatis configured via programming, hardware, software, or firmware, or anycombination of the foregoing, to recognize, receive, or detect motion inresponse to one or more signals generated in response to movement of thesensor. Examples of sensors used in devices of this second categoryinclude photodiodes, phototransistors, and vibration sensors. Theelectronic processor used in devices of the second category may beintegrated with or may be separate from the electronic controller thatregulates power to the light source or other electronic device.

Sensors useful in motion detectors may include mechanical,electro-mechanical, electronic, optical, or other suitable devices thatcreate a signal, whether electrical, electromagnetic, magnetic, orotherwise, when the sensor is moved. Exemplary sensors include, but arenot limited to, accelerometers, including piezoelectric accelerometers,acceleration transducers, motion transducers, ball-tube sensors,vibration sensors, mercury switches, photodiodes, and phototransistors

FIG. 1 illustrates a sight 100 mounted to a pistol 200. Because of therigid connection between the sight 100 and the pistol 200, when thepistol 200 is moved, the sight 100 is also moved. In other embodiments asight 100 may be affixed to a different handheld weapon such as, but notlimited to, a rifle, bow, or crossbow.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate external and internal components of the sight100. The sight 100 includes a body, such as housing 1, that supports alens 5, which is preferably a transparent material that may or may notmagnify an image viewed through the lens 5. Alternate embodiments mayinclude a body that supports multiple lenses that have magnification, orother optical properties, or may support no lenses, for example, a laserpointer, a riflescope, or a pin sight for a bow. The sight 100 is fixedto the pistol 200 by screws 10. Other suitable mounting arrangements maybe used such as mounting rails (for example, Picatinny or Weaver), orother suitable mechanisms for rigidly securing the sight 100 to thepistol 200. Elevation adjustment screws 15 and windage adjustment screw45 may be used to alter the relationship between an aiming pointgenerated by a light source 50 and a point of impact of a projectilefired from the pistol 200.

An electronic controller 35 is retained in or on the housing 1,preferably where the electronic controller 35 is substantially protectedfrom the outside environment surrounding the housing 1. The electroniccontroller 35 may include a number of circuits on a printed circuitboard, a microcontroller (with or without firmware), and/or othersuitable electronics. The electronic controller 35 is preferably asingle device, but alternately may encompass multiple devices. Forexample, the electronic controller 35 may include a microcontrolleroperatively coupled to a processor integrated in a motion detector 55and/or a processor separate from the motion detector 55. The electroniccontroller 35 operates through hardware, firmware, software, or acombination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. A contact 20electrically connects the electronic controller 35 to a power source,such as a battery 25.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the electronic controller 35 is operativelyconnected to a light source 50 such that the electronic controllerregulates or controls the flow of electric power from battery 25 to thelight source 50. The light source 50 may include an LED, LD, or othersuitable source of illumination. A motion detector 55 is also rigidlyattached to or supported on the housing 1, and is operatively connectedto and/or in communication with the electronic controller 35. A suitablemotion detector 55 preferably includes the model SQ-SEN-200 ball-tubetype vibration sensor made by SignalQuest, Inc. of Lebanon, N.H., thedesign and operation of which are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,326,866.Another suitable motion detector 55 includes the part number LIS331 DLFMEMS digital accelerometer made by STMicroelectronics of Geneva,Switzerland. Other suitable motion detector types are described above. Atimer 60 (FIG. 3) may also be operatively connected to the electroniccontroller 35. For example, timer 60 may be an independent timingcircuit operatively coupled to the electronic controller as illustratedin FIG. 3. Alternatively, a timer 60 may be part of the electroniccontroller 35, for example when the electronic controller 35 includes amicrocontroller with an internal clock such as a quartz oscillator. Theelectronic controller 35, the light source 50, the motion detector 55,and/or the timer 60 are preferably encapsulated in a protective cover 65(FIG. 3) that protects against environmental conditions and/or shockassociated with firearm discharge.

In one embodiment, the electronic controller 35 is preferably connectedto a light detector 57, such as a phototransistor, photodiode, or othersuitable device. Light level signals generated by the light detector 57are used by the electronic controller to determine ambient light levels,and the electronic controller 35 adjusts the brightness of the lightsource 50 in response to the light level signals generated by the lightdetector 57. For example, the electronic controller 35 sets thebrightness of the light source 50 at a relatively high level when alight level signal corresponding to a relatively bright ambient lightlevel is received by the electronic controller 35, while the electroniccontroller 35 sets the brightness of the light source 50 at a relativelylow level when a light level signal corresponding to a relatively lowambient light level is received by the electronic controller 35.Preferably, the brightness of the light source 50 is adjusted to bereadily visible in the ambient light. Adjusting the brightness of thelight source 50 preferably occurs in conjunction with motion detectionand power regulation, described below. Alternately, the light detector57 is used as an optical motion detector to detect motion and generatemotion signals. In other alternate arrangements, the light detector 57may be used for both motion signal generation and illuminance detection.Motion signals in one embodiment are preferably signals only indicativeof motion of the sight 100, that is, signals corresponding to motion ofthe sight 100, but not carrying any kinematic information regarding suchmotion. Alternately, motion signals correspond to motion of the sight100 and also carry kinematic information regarding such motion such asmagnitude of displacement, velocity, acceleration, direction ofmovement, direction of acceleration, or any combination of theforegoing.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment where the motion detector 55 generatesmotion signals in response to movement of the pistol 200 at step 400.The motion signals may simply represent detected motion by the motiondetector 55 that is sufficient to overcome the sensitivity floor(threshold) of the motion detector 55, which is preferably set by themanufacturer and/or adjustable by a user. For example, motion detector55 detects movement of the pistol 200 in any one of the six degrees offreedom of a Cartesian coordinate system, singularly or in anycombination, sufficient to trigger the motion detector 55. For example,one or more model SQ-SEN-200 sensors may be configured as anomnidirectional movement or omnidirectional vibration sensing motiondetector. Alternately, the motion detector 55 may include other sensorsthat determine kinematic information corresponding to movement in any ofthe six degrees of freedom of a Cartesian coordinate system, singularlyor in any combination, of the sight 100, or the motion signal may notcarry kinematic information.

The electronic controller 35 is preferably configured to receive ordetect motion signals generated by the motion detector 55 via hardware,firmware, or software, singularly or in any combination. In a preferredembodiment, after the electronic controller 35 detects or receives amotion signal at step 405, the electronic controller 35 transitions, orwakes up, from a low power setting to a full power setting at step 410,then establishes a connection between the battery 25 and the lightsource 50 at step 415, thus causing the light source 50 to generate anaiming mark. Aiming marks generated by the light source 50 may include asingle dot, a series of dots, one or more lines, or other suitable marksor images. Generating an aiming mark may instead or in addition includelighting or otherwise enhancing or highlighting existing lines, dots, orother suitable markings, for example, on a transparent disc, of areticle, of a sighting pin, or other suitable arrangement. Theelectronic controller 35 may prevent electric power from flowing fromthe battery 25 to the light source 50 at step 420. For example,electrical power is prevented from flowing from the battery 25 to thelight source 50 when no motion signals generated by the motion detector55 are detected or received by the electronic controller 35, or when nomotion signals have been detected or received during a predeterminedperiod of time. Thus, the electronic controller 35 preferably providespower from the battery 25 to the light source 50 during a time periodwhen motion signals are detected or received, for example, in responseto movement of the pistol 200.

An alternate embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5. The motion detector 55generates motion signals at step 500 when the pistol 200 is moved. Theelectronic controller 35 detects the motion signals at step 505 andprovides power from the battery 25 to the light source 50 at step 510.Alternately, the electronic controller 35 may first “wake up” asillustrated in FIG. 4 prior to providing power from the battery 25 tothe light source 50. The electronic controller 35 continues providingpower to the light source 50 while motion signals are detected orreceived, and for a predetermined time measured by the timer 60 or by aninternal clock, after the last detected motion signal at step 515. Apredetermined time may be in the range of ½ a minute to 60 minutes, andis preferably 30 minutes. Other suitable predetermined time periods maybe used.

In other embodiments, the electronic controller 35 may further beconfigured, through hardware, firmware, software, or a combination ofhardware, software, and/or firmware, to recognize patterns exhibited bythe motion signals. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment wherea pistol 200 is bumped at step 600 and the motion detector 55 generatesone motion signal in response to the bump at step 605. The electroniccontroller 35 provides power from the battery 25 to the light source 50upon detecting or receiving the motion signal at step 610. But, if asecond motion signal is not detected within a predetermined time periodat step 615, for example, 0.25 second, the electronic controller 35prevents power from flowing from the battery 25 to the light source 50at step 620.

Alternate programming is illustrated in FIG. 6A. The electroniccontroller 35 is programmed to recognize motion signal density, in otherwords, the number of motion signals generated per unit of time. At step630 the electronic controller 35 detects motion signals. At step 635 theelectronic controller 35 determines whether a signal density is at orabove a predetermined threshold. At step 640, the electronic controller35 is set to a low power mode and/or prevents power from flowing fromthe battery 25 to the light source 50 if the motion signal density isbelow the predetermined threshold. At step 645, the electroniccontroller 35 is set to a full power mode, and/or provides power fromthe battery 25 to the light source 50 if the motion signal density is ator above the predetermined threshold. In an alternate embodiment, theelectronic controller 35 remains at a full power mode for apredetermined time period after the motion signal density changes fromabove the predetermined threshold to below the predetermined thresholdand the predetermined time period is reset if the motion signal densityrises to or above the predetermined threshold.

For example, a relatively high motion signal density detected by theelectronic controller 35 preferably causes the electronic controller 35to switch from a low power mode to a full power mode, and preferablycauses the electronic controller 35 to provide power from the battery 25to the light source 50. On the other hand, a relatively low motionsignal density detected by the controller 35 preferably sets theelectronic controller to a low power mode and/or causes the electroniccontroller 35 to keep the light source 50 without power, or preventspower from flowing from the battery 25 to the light source 50. What isconsidered a relatively high or relatively low motion signal densitywill depend on various factors such as environmental conditions, userpreference, the type of weapon a sight is attached to, or other suitablefactors. One example is to treat detection of 4 or fewer motion signalsin a tenth of a second as a relatively low motion signal density anddetection of 5 or more motion signals in a tenth of a second as arelatively high motion signal density.

Alternate programming is illustrated in FIG. 7. The electroniccontroller 35 is programmed to recognize certain patterns exhibited bymotion signals and to either supply or not supply power to the lightsource based on the recognized patterns. Exemplary motion patternanalysis and recognition is discussed in US Patent Publication No.2008/0175443, which is incorporated herein by reference, and attached asExhibit A. For example, motion signals are generated by the motiondetector 55 at step 700 when the pistol 200 is carried in a holster andthe holster wearer is walking. The human gait has discernablecharacteristics and patterns that may be modeled and recognized. SeeMotor Patterns for Human Gait: Backwards Versus Forward Locomotion, theJournal of Neurophysiology, Vol. 80 No. 4, October 1998, pp. 1868-1885(R. Grasso, L. Bianchi, and F. Lacquaniti), which is incorporated hereinby reference, and attached as Exhibit B.

In one embodiment, the electronic controller 35 is programmed torecognize a pattern that corresponds to an activity the pistol 200, andthus the sight 100, is undergoing at step 705, for example, when a humanis walking with the pistol 200. At step 710, the electronic controllerdetermines a sight motion status based on the recognized pattern, forexample, whether the pistol 200 is in a holster. If the electroniccontroller 35 recognizes that the pistol 200 is being carried in aholster by a walking human at step 710, the electronic controller 35preferably prevents power from flowing from the battery 25 to the lightsource 50 at step 715. On the other hand, if the electronic controller35 recognizes a pattern exhibited by the motion signals associated withthe pistol 200 being out of a holster while a human is walking at step710, the electronic controller 35 provides power from the battery 25 tothe light source 50 at step 715. A wide range of patterns associatedwith various human activities may be recognized by the electroniccontroller 35. Depending on the activity, the electronic controller maybe programmed to supply or not supply electrical power to an electroniccomponent when a pattern associated with an activity is recognized, oralternately is not recognized.

Alternately, the electronic controller 35 may provide power from thebattery 25 to the light source 50 when the electronic controller 35 doesnot recognize any pattern exhibited by the motion signals. For example,the electronic controller 35 may be programmed to recognize a patternassociated with a pistol 200 being carried in a holster, and to preventpower from flowing from the battery 25 to the light source 50 when sucha pattern is recognized. If motion signals are detected, and a patternassociated with a pistol 200 being carried in a holster is notrecognized, the electronic controller 35 is preferably programmed toprovide power from the battery 25 to the light source 50. Thus, certainembodiments may define specific instances, that is, motion patterns,when power should not be supplied to the light source 50 and designatethat other detected motion causes power to be supplied to the lightsource.

Depending on motion and kinematics associated with various weapons andenvironments in which different weapons are typically used, differentmotion patterns may be exhibited by the motion signals and recognized bythe electronic controller 35. Each pattern, or groups of patterns, maybe associated with the electronic controller 35 supplying power to thelight source 50 or not supplying power to the light source 50.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate embodiment where, at step 810, theelectronic controller 35 records motion signals generated by the motiondetector 55 at step 800. The electronic controller 35 is programmed torecognize a pattern that is the same, or similar, to a pattern exhibitedby the recorded motion signals by comparing future motion signalsagainst the recorded motion signals. Recognizing patterns in signalsrelated to motion is discussed in Flexible Signature Descriptions ForAdaptive Motion Trajectory Representation, Perception And Recognition,Pattern Recognition, Vol. 42, Issue 1, January 2009, pp. 194-214,Shandong Wu and Y. F. Li, which is hereby incorporated by reference, andattached as Exhibit C. One pattern may be similar to another patternbased on point-to-point differences that fall within a predeterminedtolerance; best fit, B-spline, or other curve matching algorithm; motionperception analysis; motion signature matching; cluster signatureanalysis; or other suitable technique.

The electronic controller 35 is also preferably programmed with alearning mode to learn patterns corresponding to signals at step 820.For example, the electronic controller 35 learns patterns correspondingto signals by correlating recorded, and thus future recognized, patternsof signals with either a power on or a power off condition. In oneembodiment, the sight 100 includes two buttons 70 and 75. Pressing thebutton 70 at step 800, moving the pistol 200, and thus the sight 100, atstep 805, recording the motion signals at step 810, then pressing thebutton 70 again at step 815 causes the electronic controller 35 todetect and record signals generated by the motion detector 50 betweenthe two presses of the button 70. Because button 70 was used to recordthe motion signals, the electronic controller 35 correlates the recordedsignals, and thus patterns corresponding to the recorded signals, with apower on condition at step 820. Future signals are generated at step 825and detected at step 830. At step 835 the electronic controller 35recognizes a pattern corresponding to the signals detected at step 830that is identical, or similar, to the pattern recorded at step 810. Theelectronic controller 35 provides electric current to the light source50 at step 840 in response to the comparison of the patterncorresponding to the signals generated at step 825 to the patterncorresponding to the signals recorded at step 805.

In a similar manner, the electronic controller 35 learns patterns ofsignals correlating to a power off condition. For example, the button 75is used at steps 800 and 815 to teach the electronic controller 35patterns corresponding to signals that are correlated with a power offcondition. Alternate suitable arrangements, including a single button onthe sight 100 or a remote control, for teaching the electroniccontroller 35 which patterns corresponding to signals are correlatedwith power on conditions and which patterns corresponding to signals arecorrelated with power off conditions may be used.

An alternate embodiment including an on-board charging device 58 forrecharging the battery 25 is illustrated in FIG. 9. The on-boardcharging device 58 may be a piezoelectric device that transformsmechanical movement into electrical energy to recharge a dischargedbattery, such as a monolithic piezoceramic materiallead-zirconate-titanate device, a bimorph Quick Pack actuator, or amacro-fiber composite device. Such an on-board charging device 58 may beoperatively connected to the battery 25 through the electroniccontroller 35, or may be operatively connected directly to the battery25. In certain embodiments, the motion detector 55 may include apiezoelectric device for detecting motion, and the motion detector 55that includes a piezoelectric device may also serve as the chargingdevice 58. Alternately, the on-board charging device 58 may include aphotovoltaic (PV) device that transforms light energy into electricalenergy, for example, a thin-film PV device or a silicon based PV device.Other suitable charging devices may be used.

It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changesmay be made to the details of the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the underlying principles of the invention. Preferredembodiments are described above with reference to FIGS. 1-9, but theinvention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described. Thescope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only bythe following claims.

1. A sighting device for a handheld weapon comprising: a body; a motiondetector attached to the body, wherein the motion detector is configuredto generate motion signals in response to movement of the sightingdevice; an electronic component; a power source for supplying electriccurrent to the electronic component; and an electronic controlleroperatively coupled to (a) the motion detector and (b) the electroniccomponent, wherein the electronic controller is configured to receivemotion signals generated by the motion detector and is furtherconfigured to provide electric current to flow from the power source tothe electronic component in response to receiving motion signals fromthe motion detector.
 2. A sighting device for a handheld weaponaccording to claim 1, wherein the electronic component includes a lightsource.
 3. A sighting device for a handheld weapon according to claim 1,further comprising: a timer operatively coupled to the electroniccontroller; wherein the electronic controller is further configured todetermine when a predetermined time period elapses after receiving amotion signal from the motion detector; wherein the electroniccontroller is further configured to provide electric current to flowfrom the power source to the electronic component during thepredetermined time period; and wherein the electronic controller isfurther configured to prevent electric current from flowing to theelectronic component in response to not receiving a second motion signalfrom the motion detector during the predetermined time period.
 4. Asighting device for a handheld weapon according to claim 3, wherein: theelectronic controller is further configured to restart determining whenthe predetermined time period elapses in response to receiving a secondmotion signal from the motion detector during the predetermined timeperiod; and the electronic controller is further configured to preventelectric current from flowing to the electronic component in response tonot receiving a third motion signal from the motion detector during therestarted predetermined time period.
 5. A sighting device for a handheldweapon according to claim 1, wherein: the electronic controller isfurther configured to determine signal information from a motion signalreceived from the motion detector; the electronic controller is furtherconfigured to compare the signal information to a signal threshold; andthe electronic controller is further configured to control the flow ofelectric current to the electronic component in response to comparingthe signal information to the signal threshold.
 6. A sighting device fora handheld weapon according to claim 5, wherein the electroniccontroller is configured to determine signal information including amagnitude of acceleration; and the signal threshold includes a thresholdmagnitude of acceleration.
 7. A sighting device for a handheld weaponaccording to claim 5, further comprising: a timer operatively connectedto the electronic controller; wherein the signal threshold includes athreshold signal density; wherein the electronic controller is furtherconfigured to determine (a) an elapsed time and (b) the signalinformation including a signal density based on the elapsed time and atotal number of the motion signals received during the elapsed time;wherein the electronic controller is further configured to provideelectric current to flow to the electronic component in response tocomparing the signal density to the threshold signal density anddetermining the signal density is at or above the threshold signaldensity; and wherein the electronic controller is further configured toprevent electric current from flowing to the electronic component inresponse to comparing the signal density to the threshold signal densityand determining the signal density is below the threshold signaldensity.
 8. A sighting device for a handheld weapon according to claim1, wherein: the electronic controller is further configured to recognizea pattern in the motion signals; and the electronic controller isfurther configured to control the flow of electric current from thepower source to the electronic component in response to recognizing thepattern in the motion signals.
 9. A sighting device for a handheldweapon according to claim 8, wherein: the electronic controller isfurther configured to prevent electric current from flowing to theelectronic component in response to recognizing the pattern in themotion signals; and the electronic controller is further configured toprovide electric current to flow to the electronic component in responseto not recognizing the pattern in the motion signals.
 10. A sightingdevice for a handheld weapon according to claim 8, wherein: theelectronic controller is configured to learn the pattern by recordingmotion signals received from the motion detector during a first timeperiod and correlating the recorded motion signals to a power oncondition or to a power off condition for the electronic component. 11.A sighting device for a handheld weapon according to claim 9, whereinthe pattern corresponds to carrying the sighting device attached to ahandgun in a handgun holster.
 12. A sighting device for a handheldweapon according to claim 1, further comprising a charging deviceoperatively connected to the power source for recharging the powersource.
 13. A sighting device for a handheld weapon according to claim1, wherein the motion detector includes a piezoelectric device and themotion detector also functions as a charging device for recharging thepower source.
 14. A sighting device for a handheld weapon according toclaim 1, wherein: the electronic controller includes a low power modeand a full power mode; in the low power mode, the electronic controlleris further configured to monitor for motion signals generated by themotion detector; and the electronic controller is further configured toswitch from the low power mode to the full power mode in response toreceiving a motion signal generated by the motion detector.
 15. Asighting device for a handheld weapon according to claim 14, furthercomprising a light detector operatively coupled to the electroniccontroller for generating light level signals corresponding to ambientlight levels; and wherein the electronic component includes a lightsource; and wherein the electronic controller is further configured toreceive the light level signals and adjust a brightness of the lightsource in response to the light level signals.
 16. A sighting device fora handheld weapon according to claim 1, wherein the motion detectorincludes a ball-tube sensor.
 17. A sighting device for a handheld weaponaccording to claim 1, wherein the motion detector includes a MEMSaccelerometer.
 18. A sighting device for a handheld weapon comprising:motion detecting means for generating signals in response to movement ofthe sighting device; electronic means for performing a sighting devicefunction; power source means for supplying electric current to theelectronic means; and controller means operatively coupled to (a) themotion detecting means and (b) the electronic means for controllingelectric current to the electronic means.
 19. A method for supplyingpower to an electronic component in a handheld weapon sight, comprising:detecting motion of the handheld weapon sight; and controlling the flowof electric current from a power source to the electronic componentbased on the detected motion of the handheld weapon sight.
 20. A methodfor supplying power to an electronic component in a handheld weaponsight according to claim 19, wherein controlling the flow of electriccurrent from a power source to the electronic component includesproviding electric current to the electronic component in response tothe detected motion of the handheld weapon sight.
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